Pocono – Post Race Report

Hamlin, FedEx Racing Team Finish 23rd at Sonoma Raceway

Denny Hamlin finished 23rd in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, unable to overcome a pit road speeding penalty and mid-race contact from behind in the event won by Martin Truex Jr.
Hamlin started 17th and was near that spot throughout the first run on the 1.99-mile road course, with the team hoping to make it the distance on just two pit stops. He pitted for the first time under caution on Lap 32 for four tires and adjustments to help loosen up the car a bit. However, Hamlin was too fast exiting the pits and had to restart at the tail end of the field.
The FedEx Team climbed back into the top-20 through the race's midpoint when a caution on Lap 64 bunched the field for a restart. Two laps after the restart, Hamlin was hit from behind and spun off-course, sustaining damage to the car's nose. Hamlin came to pit road for repairs.
"We just got spun out there and got a lot of damage," said Hamlin, following the race. "We were never able to overcome that, and it's certainly a disappointing day for our FedEx team."
Hamlin returned to the track after repairs in 33rd, and was able to make up 10 spots for by the checkered flag.
The finish moved Hamlin up one spot to 25th in the NASCAR standings following Sonoma, 83 points behind Jeff Burton for 20th after 16 of 26 regular season races.
NASCAR returns to action at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday, June 29.